Judaism doesn’t understand halakha in terms of black or white, either forbidden or permitted. The laws of Yom Kippur prove this point. Even though we are commanded to afflict ourselves by refraining from eating, drinking, anointing, washing, wearing leather shoes, and having intimate relationships with our spouse, today’s daf TB Yoma 76 teaches allowances and dispensations concerning washing oneself on Yom Kippur.
Bathing for pleasure is what is forbidden. The Gemara
cites cases where one is permitted to wash. All translations are from
Sefaria.org.
“But if one is dirty from mud or excrement, he
may bathe in his usual manner, and he need not be concerned
about transgressing, since his goal is not pleasure.”
“The school of Menashe taught that Rabban Shimon
ben Gamliel says: A woman may rinse one hand in water, so that she
does not touch food before she has washed her hands in the morning, and give
bread to her child, and she need not be concerned about violating
the prohibition of bathing on Yom Kippur. They said about Shammai the Elder
that he did not want to feed his children with one hand, to avoid
having to wash it. This prevented the children from eating during all of Yom
Kippur. Due to concerns about the health and the suffering of his children, they
decreed that he must feed them with two hands, forcing him to wash
both hands. What is the reason that they also said in general that one
must wash his hands before touching food? Abaye said: Due to an evil
spirit named Shivta, who resides on hands that have not been washed in
the morning.”
We don’t believe in evil
spirits like the rabbis did. Nevertheless, Covid 19 has reminded us of the
importance of wash our hands regularly to prevent the transmission of germs and
viruses. Washing one’s hands before preparing food is essential to prevent the
spread of disease. I rule that this type of washing isn’t on for pleasure, but
rather for my health and the health of those around me and permitted on Yom
Kippur.
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